Girl, 4, hospitalized with broken jaw after hit by teen on electric bike in Tel Aviv
16-year-old arrested after fleeing scene of accident at port; Yuli Wolf’s father says he initially thought it was a terror attack
A four-year-old girl was hit and moderately injured by a teen riding an electric bicycle at Tel Aviv’s port on Friday.
Yuli Wolf was taken to the Ichilov hospital in the city, where she underwent surgery for a broken jaw.
Eyewitnesses said Wolf was thrown into the air when she was hit by the cyclist at high speed.
The 16-year-old rider initially fled the scene, but was arrested shortly after at his home by officers, police said.
He was taken for questioning, after which he was released “under restrictive conditions.” The teen is under investigation for reckless driving, causing injury and driving without a permit.
Wolf’s father said that at first he assumed it was a terror attack at the Tel Aviv port, a popular entertainment venue packed with visitors at the weekend.
“Initially, I thought it was a terror attack. It was wild, a bunch of guys who came at a speed of around 50 kilometers an hour, dressed in black,” said Yossi Wolf.
He told Channel 13 news he saw three cyclists heading toward them.
“The second one hit her in the face with the electric bicycle,” Yossi Wolf said.
Most areas of the port are pedestrianized, and theoretically should be free from all bicycles and scooters. However, there is little enforcement.
According to the Kan public broadcaster, the teen was riding the electric bike in violation of the law which states that a 16-year-old can only ride an electric bicycle or scooter if they hold a driver’s license or have passed a theory test. The teen reportedly had not passed any driving tests.
Recent years have seen an increase in electric scooters and bicycle injuries, amid a boom in the popularity of the vehicles. In addition to an increase in sales, rental programs for electric bikes and scooters have been rolled out across Tel Aviv.
It was unclear if the teen owned the bicycle he was riding, or if it had been rented.
The Times of Israel Community.